This in vitro study reports on the enhanced release of the hydrophobic drug itraconazole from the ordered mesoporous SBA-15 silica material and on the existence of a critical mesopore diameter for enhancing release.

No abstract

Amorphous microporous silica (AMS) materials with variation in microporosity were prepared using an acid-catalyzed sol−gel procedure departing from tetraethylorthosilicate. The silicas were fined to specific particle sizes by crushing and sieving. AMS materials were loaded with 10 wt % ibuprofen either by uptake of molten ibuprofen or by adsorption of ibuprofen from a methylene chloride solution. DSC analysis of ibuprofen-loaded AMS confirmed the molecular dispersion of ibuprofen on the silica material. In vitro ibuprofen release from AMS carrier was investigated in simulated intestinal fluid and in a dissolution medium simulating the gastrointestinal tract with simulated gastric fluid followed by simulated intestinal fluid. The release of ibuprofen molecules from the AMS silica carrier is governed by diffusion. The diffusivity of ibuprofen in the investigated series of AMS samples was in the range 10-14−10-11 m2 s-1. By adapting the porosity and particle size of AMS, the release could be evenly spread over periods from 3 to 100 h. This flexibility of AMS opens perspectives for designing tailor-made controlled release formulations.

No abstract

Eta Orionis is an interesting multiple system of early type stars. It consists of a visual triple system (A, B, C), a spectroscopic triple system (Aabc) and an eclipsing binary Aab. A is a triple system consisting of a 7.989 day eclipsing binary Aab and a gravitationally bound third component Ac with orbital period of about 9.5 years. All components of the pair AB have spectral types in the range 09-B3 (C. Waelkens & P. Lampens 1988). The radial velocity curve is used to constrain the orbital elements and properties of the binary Aab.The second component Ab is a B-type star that displays rapid absorption line profile variability. Regular patterns are easily visible in the data.